Envelope fastener machine



Oct. 23, 1945. A, Nov. 2,387,605

ENVELOPE FAS TENER MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 14 Sheet s-Sheet 1- INVENTOR. Akra/nmmwc/r v Maw ATTGRNEYS Oct. 23, 1945. I A. NOVICK 2,387,605

ENVELOPE FASTENER MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Abraham/Iowa ATI'ORN EYS Oct. 23; 1945. I A. NOYICK I 0 ENVELOPE FASTENER MACH INE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Abra/mm Nor/Ur ATTO RNEYS Oct. .23, 1945. A. NOVICK 2,387,605

ENVELOPE FASTENER MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, .1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 5' INVENTOR Abra/1am A/or/ck ATTORNEYS 23,1945- A, NOVICK 2,387,605

ENVELOPE FASTENER MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 14 Sheets-Shegt 6 INVENTOR Abraham/Vowel ATTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1945. A. NOVICK- v ENVELOPE FASTENER MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR Abra/1am Wow'c/r 7W E M ATTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1945. A. NOVICK ,387,6

IENVELOPE FAsTEIgEh MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 '14 Sheets-Sheet a a 7 1%, w} v w w a i\ RM mQ QM m Ill/1111 114 i, 5. w I! A rill!!! v.

A. NOVICK ENVELOPE FASTENER MACHINE Oct. 23, 1945.

Filed Aug. 2, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR Abraham IVowc/r BY ATTORNEY-S Oct. 23, 1945. A. NOVICK ENVELOPE FASTENER MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 t E E \r 4 a .m m E aw m mm m Mt T mm A EN 4 .M mRQ H mm m an Oct. 23, 1945.

A. NOVICK ENVELOPE FAsTEN ER MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 mww fim. Mk EN INVENTOR Abra/7am Nov/ck A-TTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1945. A. NOVICK ENVELOPE FASTEQIER MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet; 12

Filed Aug. 2, 1940 l-WHH uIIIIII'II ATTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1945,

A. NOVlCK ENVELOPE FASTENER MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 3b5 363%' 3fifl-'% 360 are 36/ 376 336 3/0 7 362 362 INVENTOR Abraham/Vowt/r ATTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1945. A. NOVICK 2,387,605

ENVELOPE FASTENER MACHINE Filed- 2, 1940 14 sheets-sheet 14 INVEVNTOR' Abraham Nov/cl! Patented Oct. 23, 1945 ENVELOPE FASTENER MACHINE Abraham Novick, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to F. L. Smithe Machine 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., ,a corporation of New York Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,960

33 Claims.

This. invention relates to improvements in envelope machines, and is particularly directed to features embodied in an improved automatic machine for applying fasteners of the button and string type to the flap and body portions of envelopes. Fasteners of this type are composed of a body member formed from a button attached to the body of the envelope by a suitable fastening element, .ordinarily an eyelet, and a similar flap member carrying a length of string.

A principal feature of the invention is the combination, in a practical and efficient machine, of means for applying the button fastener members to'the body and flap portions of an envelope with means for automatically feeding envelopes in synchronized sequence to the applying station and discharging the envelopes therefrom. Machines for applying fastener elements of this type have heretofore been fed by hand, and have been arranged for manual insertion of the flap end of the envelope in proper position in the machine. Where operations on the envelope body have been carried out it has been necessary to locate the envelope with a portion of the mechanism extending into the envelope mouth,'which could readily be accomplished manually. Auto matic envelope feed arrangements have also been known, but hav not been suitable for use in feeding envelopes to mechanism for applying button and string fastener members, owing to the necessity for arranging parts of thelatter type of mechanism .on opposite sides of the body and flap of the envelope, and the consequent interference between the known button fastener applying mechanisms and the known conveyor cation to an envelope are carried out at the same station and by associated parts forming a single unit.

An improved construction and arrangement for automatically applying the string to the fas tener is also provided. 3

' A further feature of the invention includes the provision of button materialin the form of a strip prepunched to receive the fastening elements and arranged in a roll which may be conveniently mounted on the machine to form a button supply. Since the fastener elements are mounted on the strip in advance and the strip carrying such elements constitutes a supply of the entire button-forming structureiexcept the patch and string, where these elements are used), a specific feature of the invention is the provision of a strip of button-forming material carrying attaching elements at interval suitable for excising the buttons and applying them by means of said elements in succession.

Envelopes of the type to which such fasteners are generally applied vary substantially in size and in the spacing between the points of fasarrangements. Important features of the invention therefore include improvements in both the construction and the arrangement of the fastener applying mechanisms and of the conveyor structure, adapted to permit their use in combination.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a novel arrangement for forming and applying the buttons and eyelets. This arrangement includes the provision of a strip of suitable stiff button material, advantageously provided with prepunched openings for receiving fastening elements. In the preferred form such elements consist of eyelets which are positioned in the openings by improved means and are advanced with the strip to a station where buttons; each carrying an eyelet, are successively excised from the strip, each eyelet-carryin button being then applied to an envelope. The invention includes an improved arrangement whereby the excising of a button and its applitener application. A feature of the invention is the provision of an arrangement whereby the fastener members may readily be applied simultaneously to the flaps and the body portions of envelopes varying both in overall dimensions and in said spacing. This is in general accomplished by mounting substantially the entire mechanism employed for applying one of the fastener members on a movable support which is adjustable without interference with the feed and drive connections to the other fastener applying station, and by employing adjustable envelope-positionin means such as stops.

A further feature of the invention comprises an improved automatic envelope conveying construction of the belt type arranged to permit operations on both faces of the envelope along the center line. thereof, and in particularto facilitate the location of operating mechanism direct- 1y below the path of travel of the envelope in line with the usual path of return belt travel, without interference with the belt. This feature includes the lateral deflection of a portion of the return run of the belt means, and/or the use of a laterally offset belt.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the feed end of an envelope fastener applying machine, showing particularly the feed mechanism and the mechanism for forming and applying the button and string fastener member to the envelope flap;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the discharge end of said machine, slightly overlapping Fig. 1 and showing particularly the mechanism for forming and applying a button fastener to the envelope Fig. 3, is a plan viewof the part of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with parts omitted;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the part of the machine shown in Fig. 2 with parts omitted;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken from the right of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a similar view online 6-6, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of button strip feeding, eyelet inserting and button forming and applying mechanisms at the commencement of the strip feed;

Fig. 8 is a detail plan View of the strip feeding and eyelet inserting portion of the button strip feed channel; V

Fig. 9 is a detail section on line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

,Fig. 10 is a detail section on line 10-40 of Fig. 7

Fig. 11 is a vertical section ,on line ||,f-l| of Fig. ,7;

; Fig. 12 is a plan view of an envelopeprovided with button and string fastener members of the type applied by this machine;

Fig. 13 is a detail plan view of a portion of the button-forming strip with eyelets in place,

indicating an area that will be excised to form .a button;

reenforcing patch in place, at about the end of .the string winding step;

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the string supply mechanism with parts broken away;

Fig. 19 is a detail plan view of the string supply carriage;

Fig. 20 is a detail side elevation showing the string supply carriage, guideway and scissors with .the latter in operative position;

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the same structure with parts broken away;

Fig. 22 is a section on line 22-22 of Fig. 20

showing the scissors in retracted position;

Fig. 23 is. a similar view with the scissors in operative string-cutting position;

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary vertical section of the button-formin mechanism on the same line as Fig. 11 but at a later stage, immediately prior to punching out the button;

Fig. 25 is a similar view after the button has been punched;

' Fig. 26 is a similar View of the next stage with the parts in position for winding the string;

Fig. 27 is a similar view of the following stage with the parts in eyelet-upsetting position;

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view -of the fastener parts as shown in Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary planview of the reenforcing patch applying head on line 29-29 of Fig. 30; j

Fig, 30 is a sectional'side elevation of said head .on line 30-40 of Fig. 29;,

Fig. 31 is a vertical transverse sectional View of said head on line 3l--3l of Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 is a fragmentary'plan view of the anvil tip which is inserted in the envelope;

Fig. 33 is a vertical sectional view on line 3333' of Fig. 32;

Fig. 34 is a vertical sectional view through the mechanism for forming and applying the button fastener to the envelope body;

Fig. 35 is a detail vertical sectional view of the eyelet-inserting device in Fig. 34, shown in lowermost operative position; and r Fig. 36 is a fragmentary vertical section of the fastener-applying parts in Fig. 34 showing the application and clinching of the body button memher to the envelope.

The general arrangement and organization of the machine will first be indicated to facilitate an understanding of the detailed description. At the left as viewed in Figures 1-4 an envelope feeding device is mounted above a horizontal conveyor which receives the envelopes from the feeder with the flaps trailing and the openings uppermost. Each envelope is arrested by a suitable stop at the operating station, at which a button and string fastener member is applied to the lower face of the flap and fixed in position by an eyelet, upset through a reenforcing patch applied to the upper face of the flap. The end of'the string supply is wrapped around the eyelet prior to insertion of the eyelet through the flap, the string is cut to the proper length, and a suitable patch is cut from the end of a patch strip and applied to the upper face of the flap, being held in place while the eyelet is forced through the flap and patch and upset against the patchto hold the button assembly in place. Simultaneously a cooperating button fastener member is mounted on the upper face of the body of the envelope by an eyelet upset against an anvil inserted in the envelope. After these operations are concluded the stop recedes and the envelope travels to discharge at the right hand end of the inachine.

The buttons are punched from button strips fed from rolls mounted on the side of the ma- The eyelets are inserted in preformed holes in the strips and are carried by said strips to the point of application, where the buttons are punched out. v

In order to provide for variations in spacing between the buttons with different sizes and types of envelope, the entire mechanism for applying the button fastener to the envelope body, including the button strip feed, the eyelet feed, the anvil and the applying mechanism, are ounted on a longitudinally adjustable carriage. V

The illustrated embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail. The fastener elements, and a type of envelope to which such patch 41 and the piece of string 48 are attached to flap 43 byeyelet 49.

A suitable automatic envelope feeding device substantially the same as that disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 263,626 is mounted at the left of frame 50 as viewed in Figures li, and is of a type suitable for feeding envelopes individually in succession and in' synchronism from a stack or pile toa horizontal conveyor. In

the embodiment illustrated, stack 5:! .of envelopes is supported in a suitable magazine-52 mounted on standard 53 on frame 50. The magazine comprises floor bars 54, bottom plates 55 and side rails '56. A stripper finger 5'! of known type is positioned to engage the lower edge portion of the bottom envelope to prevent jfeeding more than one envelope- I Sucker tube 58 is secured by clamp59 to a rocking bail 60 pivoted on standards 53 and driven through sprocket 65 and chain 66 from sprocket 61 on front shaft 68 journaled in frame 59. Shaft 58 is driven through sprocket chain 69 from front cam shaft I I9. I I

. The lower edge of each envelope is deflected tothe right, Fig. l, by suction tube 58 into contact "with the peripheries of hollow feed discs 10, mounted on feeder shaft 64 and provided with means for gripping the lower envelope edge to carry each envelope down and rearwardly to the fixed to shaft 64. An actuating arm I5 is mounted on one end of rock shaft 13 and carries a roller I6 held against stationary cam l! mounted on the adjacent standard 53, the roller and cam being maintained in engagement by spring 18 attached at one end to a disc Ill and at the other end-to an arm I9 fixed to shaft 13. The envelopes conveyed by discs I are suitably held against the discs as by rollers 80 on arms 8| pivotally mounted on the standards 53 and biased toward the disc surfaces by spring 82, suitable guide rails 33 cooperating to hold each envelope in position adjacent the disc surfaces.

The feed device is operated by rocking the sucker tube 58 to shift the lower portion of the lowermost envelope in stack I over. finger 5'! and against rotating feed discs Ill. Gripping fingers II are swung upwardly by cam TI and grip the lower margin of the envelope against the discs, which draw the envelope downwardly over floorbars 54 and discharge it at the feed end of the horizontal conveyor, now to be described, by properly synchronized retraction of the gripping fingers 'I l The conveyor is of the belt type, including belt 85 traveling below, the path of the envelopes and propelling them through the machine. The upper run of belt 85 is supported by a bar 85 having side flanges 8'! (Figure 11) extending along the sides of the belt and below the upper belt surface. Belt 85 is offset laterally from the center line of the envelope path sufliciently to permit operations on the envelopes along said central line without interference with the belt. At a similar distance at the other side of said center line an flanges of guide angles 89. Belt passes over idler pulley 92 at the feed end and drive pulley I 93 at the discharge end, both mounted on the frame 50. The drive pulley 93 is driven through pinions 94 and sprocket 95 by chain 96 passing over idler sprockets 91 and drive sprocket 98 (Fig. 6 on stub shaft 99 journaled on frame 50..

The lower run of belt 85 is arranged to permit the location of operating mechanism adjacent the lower face portions of the envelopes at the operating station. For this purpose said run is given a half twist at each end so that it maybe deflected laterally to the desired extent along the desired portion of the envelope path, by passing the belt around suitably arranged pulleys. In the construction illustrated the lower run of the belt traveling from drive pulley 93 is given :a half twist before passing over vertical axis pulley I90, then is deflected laterally and beyond the vertical projection of the envelope path, passing around vertical axis pulley I9I and thence back around vertical axis pulley I02, from which it extendswith a half twist to idler pulley 92,

.An appropriate stop is provided for arresting each envelope in proper position for attachment of the fastener elements and thereafter releasing the envelope for continued travel to discharge. The illustrated arrangement includes a stop I05 (Figs. 2 and 4), extending upwardl from the end of rod I06, which is releasably clamped for longitudinal adjustment by set screw It? in a bore in stop holder W8 adjustably clamped at an desired point along stop support link I99 by set screw II'O. Link; I59 is pivoted at its ends to parallel rock arms Ill pivotally mounted on the carriage C, the rearward arm :I I I being provided with an extension II2 pivotally connected to rod I I3 (Figs. 2 and 6) carrying forkIM, slida-bly fitting overthe rear cam shaft ;I I5 and carrying roller IIB held against cam Ill on said shaft by spring IIB.

Prompt discharge of each envelope after .re lease by the stop I 95 may be assisted by providing means synchronized with the stop for pressing the envelope against belt 85 assoon as the enve-- lope is released. The arrangement illustrated is referred to as a stripper and includes a roller I20 in register with belt 85 and moved into and out of pressing engagement with an envelope on said belt. For this purpose roller I 29 is mounted on arm IZI (Figs. 2, 4 and 6), carried by rock shaft I22 journaled in an elongated bearing in bracket I23, mounted; on the carriage C and fixed at its opposite end to rock arm I24 connected by rod I25 to fork I25 slidably engaging rear cam shaft I I5 and carrying cam roller I2'l-held against cam I28 on said shaft.

In operation, the envelope stop I85 is lifted by the action of cam II'I, rocking arms III and thereby raising link I09, holder E98 and stop I05 mounted thereon to upper p SitiOn in which stop I05 extends between belt 85 and rail 88 across the path of the envelope. During the dwell of the envelope against the stop, stripper roller I20 is held in elevated position by cam I28. Upon completion of the attachment of the fastener members to the envelope, stop I55 is swung rearwardly and downwardly by cam ill, and. roller I20 is depressed, forcing the envelope against belt 85 and assuring prompt discharge of the en-- velope from operating position to avoid delay in positioning the succeeding envelope for fastener attachment. The envelope thenpasses beneath additional presser rolls 9!) (Fig. 2) and dischar ed to a suitable receiver I29. j I.

ing pins I52 in this manner. illustrated produces the feed and return move- While each envelope 40 is held in'operating positiona button fastener membercarrying a length of string is attached to the envelope flap. .The mechanism for this operation includes button supply means; eyelet feeding and positioning means; means for supplying and applying the string; means for supplying and applying a reenforcing patch to the upper surface of the flap; and means for punching out the button and upsetting the eyelet in place.

A feature of the button strip supply construcpivoted to feed bar I53 and fixed to rock shaft I56 journaled n bracket I51 on frame 50.. Rock shaft I56 carries a second rock arm I58.connected by drive link I59 (Figs. 1 and 5) to rocker arm I60 pivotally mounted on the frame and biased downwardly by spring I6I-, arm I60 carry; ing a roller I62 bearing against cam I63 on the front cam shaft II9.

'A yieldable connection is advantageously 'pro- 0 vided in the linkage between the pins I52' and .tion, as already noted, involves the positioning of the attaching elements in or on the strip substantially in advance of the button severing station. With this arrangement the mechanism for inserting the eyelet or other fastener elements may be located at a convenient point on the machine,

simplifying the design and avoiding the congestion of mechanism at the button applying station.

The preferred arrangement, indicated in detail in Figures 9-16, punches the button element from '5, 7-10) from which the strip passes into a guideway I31 formed with a base plate I38 and side flanges I39 forming a feed channel I40 fitting strip I35. Suitable retaining means is provided in channel I40 to hold strip I36 in place, the illustrated form including hold-down bars I4I extending along the sides of channel I40 close to the upper face of strip I35 and connected by cross bars I42 resting on flanges I39. Bars I4I are held down in operative position by a suitable clamp, including clamp rod I43 (Figs. '1, 9, 11) having a cylindrical surface I44 bearing against the upper faces of bars I4I when in operative position, and a cut-away face I45 providing sufficient clearance when in alignment with bars I4I to permit the bars to be lifted and removed from feed channel I40. Clamp rod I43 is rotatably mounted in the lower part of bracket I46 and is operated by handle I41 arranged so that when the handle is lowermost the clamping face I44 is in engagement with bars I4 I.

Suitable means is provided for feeding strip I35 along channel I40 step by step. In the preferred form shown the strip I35 isprovided with a series of center eyelet-receiving openings I50; and

it is desirable, for reasons that will hereafter appear, to avoid marring or distorting the edges of these openings. It is also necessary to feed the strip an exact distance in each step to assure ac-- curate registry of the eyelet openings with the eyelet-inserting and fastener-applying devices hereafter described.

For this purpose the strip I35 is provided with a series of marginal notches I5I intermediate openings I50, advantageously located outside of the button-forming areas and registering with feed pins I52 (Figures '1, 8, 11) mounted on feed bar I53 located below the strip guideway I31 with the pins I52, when in feeding position projecting upwardly through slots I54 in said guideway into engagement with registering notches I5I at opposite sides of strip I35. The strip is moved step by step by shifting pins I52 forwardly in slots I54 while in engagement with notches I5I, then depressing the ins below strip I35, returning them to initial position and elevating'them into engagement with the next set of notches I5 I.

Appropriate mechanism is provided for actuat- The arrangement ment of pins I52 through rock arm I55 (Fig. 5)

cam I53 to prevent damage in case of interference with the feed. A convenient arrangement for this purpose is shown, comprising a stud I64 on rock arm I58, vertically slidable in slot I65 in drive link I59 (Fig.5) and biased upwardly by spring I66 attached at its ends tothe end of'arm I58 and to an upward extension of drive link159.

The vertical component ofmovement of-the pins I52 is produced by suitableactuation of-rock arm I10 (Fig. 5) pivoted on bracket I46 and carrying roller I1I, engaging the lower face of feed bar I53 and mounted on a stud I12, eXtendingbe-. yond the roller and traveling along a face of yoke I13 parallel to the lower face of feed'bar I53-on which the yoke is mounted. Rock arm 'I10-isac-:

tuated through link I14 connected t'o-rock lever I15 pivoted on bracket I16 and carrying roller I11 held against cam I18 on front cam shaft H9 by spring I19. f

Cams I63 and I18 are contoured and'synchrom ized to impart to feed bar I53 and pins I52 thereon an upward movement at the beginning of the cycle of operation, bringingthe pins into engagement with notches I5I in strip l35, then moving the pins to the right (as seen in Figs. 1,

8 and 11) in slots I54 while in engagement with the button strip, for a distance equal to the distance between the eyelet openings I50, thenlowering said bar and pins to clear 'strip" I35 and returning the pins to the leftbelow said strip to the point of beginning.

The width of strip I35 and the feed'stroke'of feed bar I53 are advantageously proportioned to the diameter of the button to provide around the openings in said strip from which the buttons have been excised a' sufiicient margin to produce a substantially continuous waste strip asshown'in Figs. '1 and 11, which may travel along the channel I40 and beyond the end thereof to a suitable receptacle, thereby avoiding the accumulation of wasteinthemachine". Means are provided for supplying eyelets; and the method and arrangementforsupplyingftlie eyelets to the point of application constitutes a feature of the invention. In the preferred form the eyelets are inserted in the button strip I35 before the buttons are punched therefrom, and the strip is utilized to convey the eyelets to the 'point where the buttons are formed. Means is provided for holding the eyelets in place in the strip, particularly at the point of insertion therein and at the point of application to the envelope, this means in the preferred form shown consisting of the margins of the apertures I50 Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 5, 7, 10 and 11, eyelets 49 are supplied in bulk, through feed hopper I83 to the magazineI84 of known type in. which the eyelets are fed to the upper end of a feed. chute I85 provided with a gutter or guideway I86 along which the eyelets travel by gravity in continuousseries. The positioning of the eyelets in chute I85 is assisted by an oscillating distributor of: known type (not shown) located in, magazine I84 and mounted on rock shaft I87 carrying rock arm I88 actuated by link I89, connected to reciprocating link 343 hereafter described.

Eyelet feed chute I85 and associated parts are mounted on bracket I46 on the frame of the machine. The lower portion I 85a of chute I 85 is pivotally connected to:the upper part of the chute, so that the lower end thereof is movable toward and from the feed channel I48 for the strip I35. The appropriate movement is imparted through link I98 connecting the lower eyelet feed chute section [85a to a rocking lever I9I pivotally mounted on bracket I18 (Fig. and carrying a roller I92 held against cam I93 on the front cam shaft H9. The eyelets 49 are arrested at the lower end of guideway I86 by swinging gate I94 (Figs. 7 and 11) yieldably held in place by spring I95; and at the beginning of the eyelet inserting operation the end eyelet, located against gate I94, is positioned beneath an opening I58 in strip I35 and a registering opening I96 in plate I38 (Figs. 8 and 11).

The eyelets are removed from the lower section I85a of the feed chute and inserted in button strip I35 by a rod or needle I91 having a reduced point section or shank I98 fitting the opening in the eyelet, and an enlarged body I99 forming a shoulder 288 adapted to engage the eyelet flange. Needle I9! is mounted on plunger 28I slidable in bearing 202 on frame 58, the plunger extending below the bearing and having an adjustable connection at its lower end with one end of a rock lever 293 (Figs. 1 and 5) pivoted on bracket-284 and carrying at its opposite end a roller 295 held against cam 286 on the front cam shaft I I9.

In operation, the chute section I85a is located below guideway I31 with the end eyelet in line with an opening, I 58 in button strip I33, which is stationary, and needle I9! is in lower position clear of the eyelet and chute, as in Fig. 11. Plunger 28I is moved upwardly by cam 286, inserting the shank I98 in the end eyelet. The chute section I89 is then retracted by cam I93; and as the end eyelet 49 is held in place by shank I98, gate I94 springs out. releasing the eyelet and returning to check the succeeding eyelet in feed position. Needle I9! continues to rise, the shank I98 first entering the opening I58 in strip I 35 and assuring alignment, the eyelet 49 being then forced into opening I 58, which fits snugly against the shank of the eyelet. The tendency of strip I25 to rise during insertion of the eyelet is, resisted by the hold-down bars I lI (Fig. 10) Plunger 28I and needle I9'I are then retracted, leaving the eyelet frictionally held in the strip I35; and as the strip is advanced the flange of the eyelet below the strip travels in a suitable recess 281 in guideway base plate I38 (Figs. 8, 9 and 11). The chute secti n I8 is then swung back into position beneath guideway I31 for application of the next eyelet.

When an eyelet reaches the point of application, a button containing an eyelet is punched from strip I35, string is woundaround the eyelet,

k and the eyelet is forced through the envelope flap and upset. Referring to Figs}? and-11, the guideway I3'I extends through a head 2I8 mounted on frame 58. Head 2I8 includes a base 2I I extending through a suitable mounting socket in the frame 58 and provided with vertical guideway 2I2 carrying vertically sliding plunger 2I3. Punch 214 is mounted in a socket 2I5 in the upper end of plunger .2I3, and carries an eyelet-engaging rod or needle 2I6 slidably mounted in a longitudinal bore in the punch and yieldably pressed upwardly by spring 2" in socket 2I5 bearing against block 2 I 8 which is attached to the end of needle 2 I 6 and is normally held against the inner end of the punch 2 I 4by said spring. i

The die 2 I 9 in die holder 228 is positioned above the button strip guideway I31 in register with punch 2M, the die holder 220 being mounted in cap plate 22I attached to base 2H and suitably cut away to provide clearance for the passage of the strip guideway I31, which extends beyond plate 22I for discharge of the waste portion of strip I35 at the far side of the machine. The die holder 228 is also cut away to form a clearance recess 225 in register with the second eyelet in said strip.

Plunger 2I3 extends downwardly in guideway 2I2, (Figs. 1, 5 and 18) the lower part of which is open along one side. The lower portion of plunger 2I3 is connectedthrough link 22.2 to an end of rock lever 223, pivoted at its opposite end on bracket 224 and carrying at an intermediate point, roller 225 held against cam 228 on front cam shaft II'8 by a spring 228a. Said cam operates at the proper time to force plunger 2I3 upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 11, inserting needl 2I9 in the aligned eyelet 49 (Fig. 24), thereby assuring registry, and continuing up- Ward with punch 2I4 engaging the lower face of strip I35 (the second eyelet entering the clearance recess 22I as strip 225 is lifted against die I29). Further upward movement of punch 2I4 cuts out the button 46 (Fig. 25). The upward travel of plunger I23 is halted with the end of needle I26 in engagement with the envelope flap (Fig. 26), the needle advantageously being materially depressed against spring 2II; and the string is applied to the eyelet 49 before the button 48 is attached to the envelope flap.

A feature of the construction is the provision of an arrangement whereby the button and eyelet are held in stationary position during the winding of the string, permitting accurate and tight winding of said string around the shank of th eyelet. This arrangement has substantial advantages over constructions in which the string is wound about a traveling rod or needle carrying an eyelet and then rides up over the traveling eyelet shank. v

Suitable means is provided for supplying string, cutting off an appropriate length 48 thereof, and winding the end of the string around the eyelet 49 or the needle 2l6 carrying the eyelet. In the form illustrated the string is applied by a ring, or looper rotating around the eyelet 49, and is held in place while the eyelet is applied to the envelope flap. This arrangement includes a looper block 228 (Figs. 11 and 18) mounted on cap plate 22! and provided with a bore 229 in alignment with die 2i 9, the bore forming a guideway for the annular looper 298, the upper portion of which fits rotatably in top plate 23I. Looper block 228 is cut away at 232 to provide a runway for ring gear teeth 233 on the outer face of looper 238.

Teeth 233 mesh with pinion 234 (Fig-7) mounted in looper block 228 and driven by pinion 235 on the" upper end of looper drive shaft 236 (Figs. 5,

revolution of cam shaft I l9.

7 Referring particularly to Figs. 11 and 15-17, looper 230 is provided with a U-shaped thread clamp 245 having legs 246 slidable in suitable guide bores extending through looper 230, the lower ends of legs-246 being fixed to a clampactuating ring 241 fitting against the lower face of the looper 230 and normally biased away from said face, as by coil springs 248 set in suitable recesses 249a in the looper end symmetrically arranged about the axis thereof; The clamp legs 246 are connected by clamp bar 249 integral with th legs and advantageously provided with an elevated section 258, located at the lead end and extending for about a third of the length of the bar 249 and a trailing depressed clamping section 25l fitting against the looper face.

The thread clamp 245 is opened to receive the thread and closed to clamp it against 230 by a suitable arrangement engaging clamp actuating ring 241. The illustrated construction includes a rock shaft 252 (Figs. 7 and 11) mounted in a bore 253 in looper block 228, bore 253 extending through the lower face of block 228, for convenience in inserting and removing shaft 253, which is held in operative position by filler plate 254. Fingers 255, mounted on shaft 252 and extending through suitable openings in block 228, bear symmetrically against clamp ring 241. Rock arm 256 mounted on an end of shaft 252 is pivotally connected to rod 251 (Fig. 2) carrying fork 258 slidably engaging front cam shaft H9, and carrying roller 259 held against cam 260 on said shaft by spring 26L Suitable means is provided for inserting the end of a string supply beneath thread clamp 235, holding the string in proper position during winding, and cutting ofi a suitable length of string from the supply. The string is drawn from a suitable source of supply such as the string roll 265 (Fig. I) mounted on dispensing hanger 266 suspended on envelope magazine 52, and passes through guide 261 and tube 268 on frame 58, extending beneath the envelope conveyor.

An important problemin combining automatic envelope feed with mechanism for applying button and string type fastener members to the envelope involves the arrangement of the string supply for efficient operation without interference between the supply and the conveying mechanism. This is'particularly true where the end of the string supply is wound around the eyelet or its support immediately'adjacent the envelope, and therefore necessarily adjacent to the envelope feed mechanism.

In the preferred form this problem has been solved by providing a string supply mechanism which moves back and forth in a path sufiiciently spaced at its rear end from the envelope path to permit provision of an appropriate string cutting device, and converging into the necessary close proximity to the envelope path at the point of string application.

In the construction illustrated the string emerging from tube 268 is engaged by suitabl clamppath, a swinging clamp dog 212 at the other side of the path, being provided withan inclined narrowed string-engaging end biased toward post '21! by spring 213. The string then passes through an elongated tapered feed tube 214 mounted in standard 215 on carriage 269. Guideways 210 slope upwardly toward the envelope path and thelooper, and are arranged to position the end offeed tube 214 adjacent to and in alignment with the space between thread clamp 245 and looper 230 when carriage 269 is at the limit of movement toward the looper.

Suitable means is provided for reciprocating the carriage 269, the illustrated arrangement includ ing a link 218 connecting a downwardly extending drive lug 219 on the carriage to the upper end of a rock arm 280 (Figs. 1, 5 and 18) mounted on rock shaft 28l journaled on frame 50 and car rying at its far end rock arm 282 connected by pitman 283 to crank 284 on the far end of front cam shaft I I9. An adjustable connection between pitman 283 and. rock arm 282 is advantageously employed to vary the length of travel of carriage 269. In the illustrated arrangement the pivot 285, connecting arm 282 and pitman 283 is adjustablyclamped in slot 286 in arm 282; and pitman 283 is also adjustable in length, being threaded into adjustin head 281 engaging pivot 285. The scissor assembly is mounted on scissor bar 290 (Figs. 20-23) rotatably mounted throughaxial sockets 29| in its ends fitting over pivot studs 292 removably mounted by set screws 293' in arms 294 depending from a guideway 210. Thescissor assembly is adjustably clamped to bar 290, which is suitably shaped to prevent rotation of the as sembly relative to the bar, the disclosed arrangement employing a square bar 290. The cutting mechanism is mounted on bracket 295 having a fork 296 slidably fitting three sides of bar 290 and a retaining plate 291, attached by screws across the end of the fork and fitting against the remaining side of bar 290. Set screw 298 serves to clamp the assembly in adjusted position.

The scissors are mounted on bracket 295 at the proper location such that when the bracket is swung inwardly the scissors will be swung over guideways 210 and into alignment with thestring. In the construction shown this is accomplished by providing a plate 299 attached to the bracket 295, extending upwardly and then inwardly at right angles, the inner end of the plate being shaped to form a stationary scissors jaw'300. The movablejaw 30I is held in operative position by pivot 302 extending through plate 299, and.is connected to an integral tail piece 303 biased downwardly by spring 384 and provided with a scissors-closing shoulder 305 positioned to engage the adjacent guideway 210 when the scissors assembly is swung inwardly.

An arrangement is provided for rocking bar 290 and the scissors assembly thereon in proper synscrew 308. Rock arm 309 on bracket 306 is pivoted to rod 3 l n (Fig. 5) terminating in fork 3| l-slidable on front cam shaft H9 and carrying roller 312 held against cam 3|3 on said shaft. 1 

